CRITICAL-REVIEW OF TREATMENT TRIALS IN HYPERTENSION

Despite numerous deficiencies in some antihypertensive drug treatment trials, and some questionable selections of studies for inclusion in s everal meta-analyses, undoubtedly such trials have shown treatment ben efits from reducing hypertension. Complications that can be corrected or prevented include malignant hypertension, hypertensive heart failur e, stroke and coronary artery morbidity. The all-cause mortality has b een lowered in several trials. The benefits have been seen in subjects aged over 60 years, in women and men, and in patients with isolated s ystolic hypertension. The benefits have been achieved using a wide ran ge of drugs, not only with beta-blockers or diuretics. Non-pharmacolog ical means of lowering blood pressure have not been evaluated in relat ion to morbidity.